"Arlesheim - On Basel's Doorstep" Arlesheim by Kathrin_E

Arlesheim is part of Basel's Speckgürtel, the area around the city where the wealthy people have built their affluent homes. It is a great place to live in this small, almost rural community, surrounded by hills and forests, but a 20 minute tram ride from central Basel. Locals claim Arlesheim is the most beautiful village of the Baselbiet.

Already in the past Arlesheim must have been attractive. When the Bishop of Basel had to leave the city after the reformation and find a new residence, he chose Arlesheim. That's why this village has a large baroque cathedral.

In the middle ages a noble family settled on the hill above the village and built Birseck castle.

To local nobility the village owes its other main attraction, the 18th century landscape park named Ermitage. It is an early example of English landscape gardening. Some of the small garden buildings still exist, also the general design with the three artificial ponds on the valley ground. A pleasant place to go for a walk.